Smiling Friends to End After Season 3 as Creators Cite Burnout and Leave Door Ajar
Creators and stars Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel announced that Smiling Friends will end after its third season, revealing the decision in a video posted to the show’s social account. The surprise move follows the pair’s explanation that they feel both burnt out and creatively accomplished, and includes the scheduling of two final Season 3 episodes this spring.
Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel explain why Smiling Friends is ending
In the announcement, Hadel and Cusack framed the choice as deliberate and final for now: after finishing Season 3 they both felt exhausted from years of work but also satisfied with what they’d achieved. They emphasized a desire to give their full effort—putting everything into the show and then going out on top—rather than continuing if they could not deliver the quality they expect from themselves and fans.
Two remaining Season 3 episodes scheduled for April 12
The creators said two unreleased Season 3 episodes will air on April 12 at 11 p. m.; the time zone is unclear in the provided context. Hadel clarified these episodes are not intended as series finales but are instead “little stragglers” or small additional installments that were created as part of the Season 3 order. He described them as not being big finales, but rather extra pieces that didn’t make the initial rollout.
Smiling Friends had previously been picked up for additional seasons
Despite the decision to stop after Season 3, the show had earlier been picked up for seasons four and five. The creators previously indicated they had already written two new episodes intended for a new season and had planned to reassess how they felt after a longer run, with the idea that an endpoint might make sense later on. That prior renewal underscores that the current ending is the creators’ choice rather than a simple lack of network interest.
Creative control, support from the broadcaster, and future possibilities
Cusack and Hadel said they do not want the series to be handed off to other creative teams; they described themselves as very protective of the show and unwilling to dilute its vision. They also said the broadcaster has been supportive of their decision and has left the option open for them to return in the future if they choose. The pair signaled openness to working together on other projects and left the door slightly open to future entries in the franchise—possibly a special or another limited return—while making clear they have no firm plans for additional seasons at this time.
What the series meant and what fans can expect
Smiling Friends, which debuted in 2022, centers on co-workers Charlie (voiced by Hadel) and Pim (voiced by Cusack) as they attempt to bring positivity into people’s lives. The creators acknowledged that the announcement would be disappointing to fans, calling the decision difficult to deliver and expressing gratitude for fan support. They described the experience of making the show as the ride of a lifetime and said they hope audiences understand their reasons for stepping away while the program remains strong.
While this marks the end of new seasons for now, the creators emphasized two points consistently: they prefer ending while they still feel they can do the work properly, and they might return in some capacity if and when they feel ready. Details about any future revival, special, or further projects are unclear in the provided context and may evolve.
